Dental Grant Expands Care for Rural Indiana Children
Indiana University School of Dentistry will use a $2 million federal grant to bring dental services to children in underserved rural areas.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Indiana University School of Dentistry received a $2 million five-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to expand dental access for rural children. The school is contributing an additional $888,000 to the program.
Why it matters
Dentist shortages create barriers for families, including travel distance, affordability, and whether dentists accept Medicare or Medicaid. Because past cavities predict future cavities, early preventive care aims to reduce long-term dental problems for children across the state.
Three Indiana counties have no dentist, and 63 of the state's 92 counties are designated dentist shortage areas under the federal benchmark of 5,000 residents per provider. The grant will not cover initial examinations or referred services, which will instead be billed to insurance.
The players
Indiana University School of Dentistry
The dental school at Indiana University, which is receiving the federal grant and contributing an additional $888,000 to expand rural dental access.
U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
The federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that funds programs to improve access to health care for underserved populations.
The details
Dental hygienists will be placed at medical clinics to provide initial exams and preventive care to children during existing health appointments. Children needing further treatment will be referred to the nearest dental office with the necessary equipment, while third- and fourth-year dental students will assist with screenings and a rural community rotation.
Timeline
Year 1: Grant is in its planning phase.
Year 2: Program is planned to be fully operational.
Years 3-4: Continuous quality control of the program.
Year 5: Program is intended to become sustainable as original grant funding ends.
Financial Aid Context
Federal shortage area designations from the Health Resources and Services Administration set the 5,000-to-one population-to-dentist benchmark that defines where dental shortages are recognized. This grant applies that federal framework by funding direct dental services in the counties that qualify under it.
Rural families in Indiana's shortage counties may be able to get preventive dental checks during existing medical appointments at participating clinics. Children who need further treatment will be referred to nearby dental offices, with services billed to insurance rather than covered by the grant.
The takeaway
Preventive dental care delivered alongside routine medical visits can reach children who might otherwise go without, especially in rural areas with few or no local dentists. Families can ask their child's medical provider whether a participating clinic is nearby.
Further reading
Explore more on Financial Aid to see how grants and assistance programs help cover costs for families.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Indiana Public Media.
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